Umm... so I know I've professed love for all sorts of other breads here. But, well, this one takes the cake. It is 10000000x better than anything I've ever made. It's slightly sour, complex, sturdy, with a chewy, not too dense crumb. There are no superlatives that I couldn't use on this bread. It smells just like sourdough, the real deal.
There's only one thing. It took 4 days to make. FOUR DAYS. I even carried it with me to an afternoon of baking with a friend. For serious. She didn't even look at me funny. Is that a good sign, or a bad sign? First, I had to revive George, my sourdough starter. Let's just say it's been at least 5 months since he's come out to play, so I was very glad to see how lively he was after a couple feedings. Then there was a first stage levain. And a second stage levain. Neither of which I kneaded, because there was no way I was kneading that soupy mass. But, oh, when I tipped the second levain into my stand mixer - the gluten strands throughout were so exciting, I even flagged the boyfriend down to show him. For some odd reason, he wasn't quite as excited as I was, but oh well. Then a bulk ferment. And shaping, and a final proof. 4 days of blood, sweat, and tears.
All for some magnificent bread. Really, there's only one problem. There isn't enough of it. I want more. I need more. And I don't have four days to make it for the next month or so. This is a problem of epic proportions, people. So, um, if you happen to have four days to kill in the next week or so..... I wouldn't say no to a package of this bread :)
Thank you Sara, for picking such a wonderful bread for this month's Bread Baking Babes challenge, and to all the babes for letting me bake along with you!
PS - Since I used my 100% hydration sourdough starter, I added an extra 1/2 cup of flour to my final dough in order for it to get to the right level of tackiness.
PPS - See that final pic? I'm thinking I should have slashed the loaves, even though it told me not to. And I definitely should have baked it with steam. But eh, I guess that's just aesthetics, right?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
BBB: Pane Francese
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16 comments:
Four days - wow, that is some serious bread dedication. I love to bake bread, but am generally way to impatient and prefer more immediate results with my baking.
;) I simply love to say: I told you so! Really, it is the flavor of bread.
That must be an incredible friend to not even look at you funny when you took it with you.
I am constantly surprised by the ability of my starter to recover. Loved this chef!!Many thankjs
Yes it''s a great bread isn't it!
All good things take time....
Great loaves!
well for me that crack is just gorgeous. Nice bread. Looks so so good. Pity I don't have 4 days free :(
Wow, this bread looks amazing. I can't believe it took FOUR days to make?! That's crazy, but apparently well worth the wait. With such an amazing review (I mean, I can't even pronounce 100000000000000x better), how could I not attempt something like this bread?
Ah Caitlin, you crack me up.
I would never think it was odd if a person showed up at my doorstep for an afternoon of baking toting a bowl of dough they had too mind whilst spending the day with me. OH wait...I've DONE that too!
OH and men rarely understand the excitement a good batch of gluten strands elicit.
FANTASTIC job on the bread this month and thanks as always for being a Buddy with us.
Fantabulous loaves!
Such great lift and body to them.
This one was a tasty one, you did a great job.
You are a true breadie!
The crumb looks fabulous. Now, wasn't four days worth it?
Wow! Your bread sounds fantastic. I need to get over my fear and create a starter. It really isn't difficult, is it?
gorgeous looking bread!!! yum, there really is nothing like fresh baked bread from your own kitchen.
A four day bread! Bet it was gone in four minutes :)
My loaves exploded, too. Maybe it's meant to explode? mine went all over the place, though.
That's a friend we all need! Isn't this just a great bread? I had the same feeling (and ditto bottom of my bread).
Your loaves look gorgeous! Great job, Baking Buddy!
Thank you for baking with us! I'm so glad you liked the bread.
Gorgeous...looks really wonderful! I can almost taste it as I look at the photo of the inside...great job!
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